Nitrogen: Contract signed for new Polish nitrates plant

Polish fertilizer producer Anwil has awarded a contract to build new nitric acid and ammonium nitrate plants at its Wloclawek site to German firm thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions.

The EPC contract value is described as "in the lower three-digit million euro range". Anwil is a subsidiary of the Polish group PKN Orlen.

The new plants will have a capacity to produce 450,000t/yr of nitric acid and 430,000t/yr of ammonium nitrate. They will feature thyssenkrupp's technology to remove nitrous oxides from nitric acid production.

Anwil has an existing 360,000t/yr nitrates plant at Wloclawek, based on a 500,000t/yr ammonia unit, so the new units will more than double its capacity.

The project forms a major part of Orlen's plan to expand its fertilizer portfolio. By 2022, the company aims to increase its fertilizer capacity at Wloclawek by 50pc to 1.46mn t/yr to meet growing demand, according to a statement.